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IDF General’s invitation leads to protests and cancellation

Posted by emmalazarus on August 20, 2008

An event dedicated to King David, which was set to be held in the Kfar Etzion settlement and was to be attended by public figures, intellectuals and religious officials has been cancelled. The reason for the event being called off is due to one of the public figures invited to take part in the event. This figure is Major-General Gershon Hacohen, known best for his leadership in the evacuation of Gush Katif three years ago.

Once it became known that the Hacohen was to play a part in the event, there was a huge amount of pressure from right-wing elements for the organizers to remove Hacohen from the list of speakers. Emails and calls bombarded the organizers, as well as threats to boycott and/or disturb the event. Hacohen learned of this pressure and the planned protests and decided to withdraw from the event. He said that he “does not desire to sadden people” (Israel National News). The organizers then decided to call off the event entirely. They issued a statement saying that they could not accept the “targeting” and “boycotting” of an IDF officer who had given so much to Israeli security and Jewish life in Judea and Samaria. “We must do everything we can to avoid polarization of our society and the establishment of two states for one people, as happened 50 years after King David’s regime.” (Israel National News)